Glenn looks to be headed to Big D

Deal in works to reunite Texans CB with Parcells

CARLTON THOMPSON, Copyright 2005 Houston Chronicle

Published 5:30 am, Tuesday, April 26, 2005

As Aaron Glenn's future with the Texans appears headed south, it seems the three-time Pro Bowl cornerback is headed north — as in up Interstate 45 to Dallas, where he will be reunited with former coach Bill Parcells.

The Texans gave Glenn permission to seek a deal with another team last week after they acquired cornerback Phillip Buchanon in a trade with Oakland. According to sources, Glenn, 32, has reached an agreement with Dallas, and the Texans will facilitate the deal by granting the 11-year veteran his release. Attempts to reach Glenn were unsuccessful on Monday.

Texans coach Dom Capers met with Glenn the day the Buchanon trade was completed and gave Glenn the option of staying with the Texans, possibly in a reduced role, or exploring options with other teams.

Although at least two other teams were believed to be interested in Glenn, Dallas would seem to be a good fit. Glenn played for Cowboys coach Bill Parcells from 1997-1999 when both were with the New York Jets, and Dallas represents a destination not so far from home for the Nimitz High School and Texas A&M prod- uct.

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Parcells also has a history of surrounding himself with players he has coached in the past and has several former players on his Cowboys roster, including quarterback
Drew Bledsoe
, fullback
Richie Anderson
and receivers
Terry Glenn
and
Keyshawn Johnson
, a close friend of Glenn's.

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It is uncertain exactly when the Texans will release Glenn, who signed a five-year, $26 million contract extension in 2002. But when they do, it will save the team about $1.1 million on the 2005 salary cap. If they make the move before June 1 — and in all likelihood, they will — Glenn will be completely off the books for 2006 and beyond.

One of the Texans' top offseason priorities was to get younger and faster, especially on defense, where they have been a predominantly veteran team. Glenn will be 33 when the season begins. In Buchanon and Dunta Robinson, both of whom are 24, the Texans believe they have a pair of talented young cornerbacks.

Although the Texans would have more quality depth at the position with Glenn on the roster, the team also has high hopes for Demarcus Faggins, a 2002 sixth-round pick who was used extensively in the nickel package last season.

Glenn also will encounter a full house at cornerback with the Cowboys. Terrance Newman was the fifth overall selection in the 2003 draft, and it would appear free-agent signee Anthony Henry is a lock for a starting job, considering the Cowboys gave him a $10 million signing bonus.

Long considered one of the top cover men in the league, Glenn helped give the Texans instant credibility when he joined the expansion team in 2002. He led the team with five interceptions in his first season with the Texans and was selected to the Pro Bowl for the third time in his career.

Injuries limited Glenn to only 11 games in 2003, but he bounced back with a solid season in 2004, intercepting five passes and serving as a mentor for Robinson, the team's first pick in the 2004 draft.

Glenn becomes the fourth member of the Texans' 2004 season-opening defensive starting lineup who won't be with the team in 2005. Inside linebackers Jamie Sharper and Jay Foreman were released after being given permission to seek trades, and strong safety Eric Brown was cut. A fifth starter — outside linebacker Kailee Wong — will move inside.